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Newly inaugurated Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove says he does not share the concerns raised by a national advocacy organization over his swearing-in, and that of Parish Council members, being performed inside of a Catholic church.
The legal director of the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation sent e-mail and postal letters to Dove and council members Friday, protesting the non-secular venue. The letter does not threaten legal action.
“Opening the council’s inauguration ceremony in a church full of religious symbols and iconography, scheduling a mass as part of the event, and generally treating this government-sponsored event like a church service ostracizes a significant segment of the population,” reads the letter, signed by attorney Sam Grover. “Future inauguration ceremonies cannot be held in church, include prayer or worship, or otherwise promote religious messages.”
The letter asks that the council respond with steps it will take “to respect the right of all Terrebonne Parish residents, regardless of their religious or non-religious beliefs, by discontinuing this illegal practice.”
The ceremony, which included the swearing in of Dove and Parish Council members, was a public event held at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in downtown Houma Thursday morning. A separate swearing in, described as “ceremonial” by parish officials, was later held at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.
“I totally disagree with them,” said Dove, after being informed of the letter’s contents. “I do not recognize them. I was raised a Catholic all my life. I grew up going to St. Francis de Sales Church. I totally believe 100 percent that it should be held at St. Francis de Sales Church.”
At least four parish presidents before Dove, going back to the former chief parish executive Barry Bonvillain, have been sworn in at the cathedral. Dove had specifically asked Bishop Shelton Fabre of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux allow his inauguration to be held there.
Dove took the oath of office with his hand on the Bible that had belonged to his late mother, Earline Dove, a leather-bound book that the family considers sacred. He said in an interview that being sworn in at the church where he serves as an usher is a matter of his own religious freedom being upheld.
“I have a right to have the swearing in at any church I believe and where I worship,” Dove said. “Terrebonne Parish is a very religious parish and I respect everyone, no matter what church they go to. At the end of the day, we all believe in God and Jesus Christ.”
A Baptist minister, the Rev. Willie Bonvillain, was present at the inauguration ceremony and addressed those in attendance.
Freedom From Religion’s director, Annie Laurie, said she has never personally heard of governmental swearing-ins taking place inside of a church.
“This gives you a message that they are a theocracy, that the Catholic Church is really in charge,” Laurie said. “It gives a message that you are supposed to be Catholic, and that is an unfriendly message to someone who is not Catholic or religious.”
Neither Dove nor council members have formulated a response to the letter. Dove is very clear, however, on what his own response will be.
“If I am re-elected as Parish President at the end of this term, I will have the inauguration at St. Francis de Sales,” Dove said. “That is my freedom of religion.” •
